Sick Denver Nuggets star channels Michael Jordan 'Flu Game' in gritty win over Oklahoma City Thunder

Jamal Murray produced a mortal's version of Michael Jordan's iconic 'Flu Game' to force a deciding game seven in the NBA Western Conference semi-finals.

The Denver Nuggets guard was in doubt for Friday's (AEST) home date with the top seeded Oklahmoa City Thunder and their MVP favourite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

But an ill Murray got the better of his Canada teammate - and appeared to mock him for flopping at one point.

READ MORE: 'Ridiculous' Maroons mind games called out by Joey

EXCLUSIVE: Inside Nike's botched $22 billion sneaker deal

READ MORE: Gold medallist, former Springbok dead at 37

Murray ended up playing a game high 42 minutes and poured in 25 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

Murray was listed as questionable before the game but told ESPN that he was "absolutely not" missing the win or go home encounter.

"It's nice. It's another step in the right direction, but we got a huge game in two days," he said.

"Shout out to Murray for playing through his illness," analyst and former Thunder centre Kendrick Perkins added.

"A lot of guys, when you talk to a lot of former players, they have regrets. A lot of guys wish they could have played on a team in their career that had a real legit chance of winning the NBA championship or being a title contender.

"When you have a roster and you have an opportunity to actually go and compete for a title, you want no regrets.

"And you're willing to play through it all. Jamal Murray was feeling under the weather but kudos to him because he came in and set the tone in that first quarter and delivered in great fashion because he's been struggling over the last three games."

Jordan's 'Flu Game' came in game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.

Jordan scored 38 points, including a game winning three, to lead the Chicago Bulls to victory.

Game seven is on Monday (AEST) in Oklahoma City, with the Minnesota Timberwolves awaiting the winner after dispatching the Golden State Warriors in five games.

Denver is also sweating on forward Aaron Gordon, who grabbed at his left hamstring late in the game and hobbled through the final few minutes.

"The guys in that locker room looked like they were more excited for an off day tomorrow than the game seven," Nuggets coach David Adelman joked.

Adelman said Murray was "definitely sick" and was cleared about 45 minutes before tipoff.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, and Christian Braun scored a career playoff-best 23 points to go with 12 rebounds.

But it was second year reserve guard Julian Strawther who ignited the Nuggets' runaway, scoring a career playoff high 15 points, all in the second half.

Strawther had a pair of threes and a layup during a 10-0 third quarter spurt that helped Denver take a double digit lead, and he kept going in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets extended this exhaustive, physical series.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, including 18 after halftime despite playing with four fouls since the second quarter.

But he didn't get enough help from his usually reliable teammates to clinch Oklahoma City's first trip to the Western Conference finals since 2016, when they lost to the Warriors in seven games. - with AP